Health Inequalities Community Engagement Officer

Job Vacancy: Health Inequalities Community Engagement Officer

Role Purpose: Empowerment Charity is a Blackpool based community organisation, dedicated to empowering the voices of marginalised individuals. Our mission is to work alongside individuals in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who feel they have no voice and are not listened to, so they are empowered to bring about real and positive change to their own lives and the lives of others.The successful candidate will act as a point of contact for local residents. They will amplify the voices of local people and communities across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who are most affected by health inequalities, so they can influence and challenge how health and care services are commissioned and provided, as well as the broader social and economic conditions that shape health outcomes. The Engagement Officer will proactively engage with individuals, groups/organisations and communities across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast to explore what matters most to them, not only in their experiences of health and social care, but also with regards to the wider determinants of health.

• Salary: £15,736.50 per annum
• Hours of work: 22.5 hours per week (to be worked flexibly)
• Reports to: Health Inequalities Community Engagement Lead
• Holiday entitlement: 29 days per year (plus bank holidays) (pro-rated for part-time position)
• Pension: Auto enrolment into the workplace pension scheme
• Location: Empowerment Charity, 333 Bispham Road, FY2 0HH
• Closing Date: 28/09/2026

Our mission is to work alongside people across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who feel unheard, ensuring they are empowered to create real and positive change in their own lives and the lives of others.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver proactive community engagement across Blackpool’s priority wards, using innovative approaches including door knocking, community events, pop-up sessions and outreach activities to connect with residents, build trusted relationships and identify support needs.
• Appropriately and sensitively engage with people whose voices are rarely heard, capturing their views and experiences of health and social care, and the wider factors affecting their health and wellbeing, to influence decision making and service improvement.
• Provide practical, person-centred support by guiding, accompanying, and connecting individuals to mainstream health and support services, ensuring timely access and promoting continuity of care.
• Provide accurate information, advice, signposting, and referrals to appropriate health, wellbeing, community, and voluntary sector services, empowering individuals to access the resources and support needed to improve their health and wellbeing.
• To build positive relationships with local residents, voluntary organisations, community groups, statutory services, faith groups and local businesses.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to deliver person-centred, holistic solutions that integrate both clinical and non-clinical interventions.
• To work in partnership with relevant organisations, businesses and stakeholders to identify and deliver additional support that meets the needs of communities across the locality, ensuring alignment with existing services and offers.
• To promote the work of Empowerment Charity, specifically Healthwatch Blackpool, to members of the public and stakeholders, representing the voices of our local community within patient and public forums across Blackpool.
• To promote and publicise our work and collective voice as widely as possible across communities and to stakeholders.
• To work flexibly to support the delivery of ongoing projects and initiatives, undertaking a range of duties to meet the evolving needs of the organisation and the communities we serve.
• Capture the findings of people engaged with, using both paper based and IT systems.
• Create and present reports on findings from engagement activities and projects.
• To attend meetings with partners and representatives of the voluntary and community sector.
• Deliver presentations about our work to community groups and forums.
• Represent Empowerment Charity at appropriate meetings with stakeholders.
• To support with enquiries and telephone calls into the charity.
• Input user experience data into the organisation’s case management database.
• Develop a working knowledge of the social care and health needs of individuals and communities in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.
• Keep up to date with national, regional and local information that relates to health, social care, and the wider determinants of health.
• Contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation systems for Empowerment Charity and our wider work.
• Contribute at team meetings.
• Deal with highly confidential/contentious information in a discrete and appropriate manner.

About You

Staff Development

• To be flexible and responsive to individuals and the needs of the service.
• To attend and participate in team meetings.
• To attend and participate in supervision and appraisal process.
• To participate in relevant training and development opportunities.
• To develop others and one’s own knowledge and practice.
• To take responsibility for own development.
• Contribute to the development and effectiveness of team working.

General Responsibilities

• To demonstrate kindness and respect at all times to the people who engage with this service and to colleagues.
• To comply with all policies and procedures relating to the service.
• Ensure accurate records and documentation are maintained in line with both statutory and organisational requirements.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining cultures and strategies in which people are respected and valued as individuals.
• Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace in line with relevant legislation at all times.
• Staff will be required to work flexibly and attend meetings, training and supervision to ensure the effective operation of the service.

Person Specific

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the causes and impacts of health inequalities, including how social, economic and environmental factors influence health outcomes across our local community.
• Knowledge of the work and purpose of Empowerment Charity, Healthwatch Blackpool and the Care Quality Commission.
• Some knowledge of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
• Knowledge and understanding of statutory, voluntary and community health and care organisations and groups.
• Understanding of the profile and demographics of Blackpool.
• Knowledge of community engagement and involvement approaches with particular reference to health, social care and wellbeing.
• Knowledge of various acts that impact on the work of Empowerment, such as the Human Rights Act 1998, Mental Health Act 2007, the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
• Knowledge of safeguarding both vulnerable adults and children.
• Understanding of the issues around social exclusion and barriers to accessing services, faced by marginalised and excluded communities, and a commitment to challenging it.
• Ability to be organised, set priorities and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to deliver presentations to a range of audiences.
• Advanced IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office, Internet skills and social media.
• Ability to communicate well at all levels with good spoken and written English and a good level of numeracy.
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with people.
• Ability to be self-managing and self-administrating.
• Ability to collate and prepare data in order to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Ability to write reports.

Qualifications:

• GCSE Maths and English grade C or above or equivalent qualification.

Experience

• Experience of working with service users and volunteers.
• Experience of working with and supporting voluntary and community sector groups to encourage their involvement.
• Experience of working with diverse people and organisations.

Personal Qualities

• A demonstrable belief in the rights of service users and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
• Positive, professional attitude and non-judgemental approach.
• Kindness and Flexibility.
• Honesty and Integrity.
• Reliability (in terms of tasks given and attendance).
• Commitment to the organisations vision, mission and values.